Backstreet Boys thrill in Zurich again

Backstreet’s back it is again 3 years after their last visit to Zurich. Shortly before their 30th band anniversary, Backstreet Boys are returning to the sold-out Hallenstadion with their DNA tour. The five heartthrobs still can do it! And they brought an old friend brought along too.

Levent Geiger kicks off the evening

Unlike in 2019, I’m not sitting at the top of the ranks today, I’m standing in the middle of the Golden Circle, 3rd row in the middle, at the end of the stage. That’s the best place, I was told before the concert. At around 5:55 p.m., been in line for about 15 minutes before the door opened, I surprisingly reached my seat quite easily and stress-free. Others had been standing in front of the arena all afternoon. It was only when the door opened that I thought that there would be chaos as soon as the first wave hit the doors. But then it wasn’t that extreme.

At 20:00 Levent Geiger starts the pre-show. The German musician from Upper Bavaria has been supporting the Backstreet Boys for a number of shows. The 19-year-old is on stage with guitar and keyboard. During the short set he sings next to covers by Justin Bieber (“Love Yourself”), Ed Sheeran (“Shape Of You”) and some 2010 hits, also a few of his own songs. The performance is okay. He can sing and he seems likeable. But that’s about it. The song selection isn’t particularly exciting. He doesn’t have a light show and what’s worse, the sound is so bad you can hardly hear what Levent is singing or saying at all. There you kinda feel sorry for the support act. He tries and you don’t even really hear him. Don’t know if it was better further back. Kinda doubt it though.

Surprised, I later learn via Google that Levent Geiger actually seems to be a talent. At the age of 5 Levent learned to play the drums. The piano followed three years later. He also plays the saxophone and guitar. With Turkish and German roots, having grown up in Chicago and Sao Paulo, Levent speaks five languages. With his piano duo, which he founded as a child, he was celebrated as one of the best young pianists at the time. Levent also writes his own songs, making him a finalist in the 2015 KIKA songwriter competition “Your Song”. In 2020 he also contributed the German contribution to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Warsaw. With this background one would have expected more from the performance.

The DNA of the Backstreet Boys

The lights finally go out, the screens are pulled up again and the first images of the intro flicker over them. “Backstreet Boys” appears big on screen, followed by the remaining eight album titles. Yes, DNA is the Backstreet Boys’ ninth studio and third #1 album. It was published at the end of January 2019. The Backstreet Boys have been on tour since May 2019 – with a pandemic break. For the second time they are returning to the completely sold-out Hallenstadion this Thursday evening with their DNA show. It’s their 80th show this year and 179th Show since the start of the DNA world tour in 2019.

Nick, AJ, Howie, Brian and Kevin are first shown in individual portraits, then as a group. Huge steam fountains shoot up, briefly cooling the arena by what feels like 10 degrees. Finally they appear on stage – Backstreet’s back! The Backstreet Boys are back, all in black. They start their show with “Everyone”, followed directly by “I Wanna Be With You”. It’s loud in the Hallenstadion. The fans are text safe. There is screaming (even today) and even bras are thrown onto the stage.

During the approximately 2-hour show, what is probably the most successful boy band in the world shows that they still have it: Their choreos are on point, presenting next to new songs (e.g. “New Love”, “Chateau”, “Passionate”) one hit after the other (“The Call”, “Get Down”, “Shape of My Heart” and many more). They hardly seem to get out of breath.

The meanwhile husbands and multiple fathers have lost none of their coolness either. The five Backstreet Boys still love to joke and flirt with their fans. Hands are shaken and high fives given. Anyone standing in the DNA pit may be lucky and get an autograph. Your songs are accompanied with great light show and visuals. The show has everything that makes the Backstreet Boys so special.

With the ninth title of the set list “Show me the meaning of being lonely” it not only becomes romantic, it also follows the first of several changes of clothes. There will be about 3-4 outfit changes. Once in a casual leisure look, then sporty or even all in white. AJ and Kevin even change their clothes in the middle of the stage halfway through the concert – hidden behind a changing wall, they tease the fans.

As the Backstreet Boys stand in front at the top of the catwalk, maybe 2 meters from me, I realize it’s probably the first time I’ve been this super close. And that my Nick Carter Crush is definitely still there. Haha.

Backstreet Boys celebrate 30-year band anniversary

Lou Perlmann founded the Backstreet Boys in Florida/USA in 1993. They started out in 1995 with the single “We’ve Got It Going On”. Since then they have sold over 130 million records. After their nine albums and the album with the Boston boy band New Kids On The Block (2011), they released their first Christmas album “A Very Backstreet Christmas” 2 weeks ago. But there are (fortunately) no samples of that today.

Despite personal crises (alcohol and drug problems, family crises, etc.) and solo careers, the Backstreet Boys are still around after 30 years. They continue to celebrate worldwide successes. Unlike all the other boy bands, they tour the world and come to Switzerland regularly. Nick can barely believe that the fans still love the Backstreet Boys so much after 29 years.

Complete photo gallery : Backstreet Boys at Hallenstadion 2022

The Backstreet Boys also owe a lot to our Swiss Eurodance star DJ Bobo. He took them on tour as a support act in 1996 and is suddenly on stage with them today. A long-term friendship developed in which they watched each other’s children grow up, says DJ Bobo with a beaming smile. He is also going on an anniversary tour next year. So the Backstreet Boys are immediately hooked on the idea of touring with DJ Bobo. He doesn’t seem averse, but somewhat reluctant to give his immediate approval. Playing one would be great, agrees DJ Bobo.

Backstreet Boys up high

So it goes on with the show and with the Backstreet Boys straight up. While the five men perform the new “Breathe” a cappella, they are lifted up. A bit annnoying for the audience in the front rows. For the next two songs, including the hit “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” all we can do is stare at the big screens. The attention span is visibly decreasing. But of course it’s great for the concert visitors in the seats. I can even confirm it myself from 2019. Still, I really wouldn’t want to trade my place in the Golden Circle. It’s so cool to be right here.

When they are back down, they change clothes again and continue with loads of other hits: “Everybody”, “The One” and “I want it that way” are definitely among my favourites.

The US boy band finally changes clothes one last time for the encore. At the end of “Don’t go breaking my heart” I make my way towards the exit. I’m still listening to super hit “Larger Than Life” from behind. I’m totally blown away!

For those who haven’t had enough of partying with the Backstreet Boys, the “Flamingo” Club is the meeting point for the official after-show party. But it takes place without me.